"The vote tally for Group One has been completed. The results are as follows:
Contestant No.1's Squirtle — 4634 votes
Contestant No.2's Psyduck — 4339 votes
Contestant No.3's Swanna — 4837 votes
Comparing the final vote counts, the contestant advancing to the semifinals from Group One is Contestant No.3's Swanna!!"
While Ash had been busy thinking about the possibility of publishing a Feebas makeup artbook, the competition for Group One had already concluded.
Although the advancement round's format had changed from individual showcasing to group PK battles, the actual structure wasn't drastically different.
The only major difference was that contestants had first been randomly divided into groups of three during the drawing stage.
Afterward, during the actual competition, contestants still appeared one after another according to their assigned numbers and performed a one-minute solo showcase.
The difference came after all three contestants within a group finished performing—
At that point, their vote totals would be directly compared against one another.
Even if a contestant earned over 80% approval from the audience judges—that is, over 4000 votes—it still wasn't enough to advance.
Only first place within the group could move on.
And Group One had just proven exactly how brutal that rule was.
All three contestants had been outstanding.
After surviving yesterday's brutal elimination round, each had already proven themselves by obtaining over 80% audience support.
But because of the advancement-round format, only Contestant No.3 successfully moved forward.
Contestants No.1 and No.2, despite their excellent scores, were still eliminated in the end.
Compared to yesterday's cruel elimination round, this was today's new kind of brutality.
The successful contestant jumped excitedly in celebration.
Meanwhile, the two eliminated contestants wore miserable expressions, looking utterly devastated and heartbroken.
"Contestants Ash, Shima, and Ona from Group Two, please prepare to take the stage~"
The moment Group One returned backstage, the staff member stationed at the waiting hall entrance immediately called for the next group.
"Okay ×3."
Ash had drawn contestant number 4 for the second-round advancement matches, making him the very first performer in Group Two.
Hearing the staff's announcement, he immediately stood up from his seat.
"Ash, good luck! ×2"
"Ash, fighting! ×P"
Gary, Green, Misty, and Clarissa all cheered him on enthusiastically.
"Don't worry~"
Ash waved casually, recalling Feebas back into its Poké Ball from the glass fish tank before walking together with the other two contestants toward the entrance passage.
Just like before, contestants themselves didn't appear on stage during the second-round advancement round.
Only the Pokémon entered the arena for their one-minute showcase.
Upon arriving at the entrance tunnel, because he was the first contestant of his group, Ash didn't hesitate at all.
He directly placed Feebas's Poké Ball into the blue launch slot before him.
"At this time, please welcome Group Two's Contestant No.4's Pokémon—Feebas—for its one-minute showcase!"
At the exact moment Ash inserted the Poké Ball, the referee robot's announcement echoed throughout the arena.
"Feebas?!"
"How many contestants in this Water-Type Pokémon Beauty Contest are using Feebas anyway?"
"I think only Ash is using one. Among the contestants who advanced past the elimination round, Ash is the only one competing with a Feebas."
"So does that mean the next one appearing is Ash's Feebas?!"
"That's right!"
"We get to see Ash's dreamlike beautiful Feebas again! I'm so excited! Yesterday's one-minute showcase wasn't nearly enough!"
"Exactly! Totally not enough!"
The moment the audience heard the referee robot announce Feebas's appearance, everyone instantly realized—
Ash was taking the stage.
Because each Pokémon only received one short minute during yesterday's performances, most spectators still felt unsatisfied after seeing Ash's Feebas.
As a result, anticipation instantly exploded throughout the arena.
And when Feebas finally appeared—
The stadium immediately erupted into complete chaos.
There were two reasons for this.
First, the audience was once again witnessing Ash's unbelievably dreamlike and beautiful Feebas.
And second—
Today's makeup style was completely different.
"Ahhh!! The makeup's different from yesterday! It's not purple anymore—it's pink~!"
"Waaah!! Pink!! It's so cute!!"
"Oh my god, this pink Feebas feels even cuter than a Luvdisc!"
"What a beautiful Feebas!!"
"Look at Feebas's lips—they look like peaches! So pretty! I want lips like that too!"
"Who's Feebas's makeup artist? This is incredible! The whole body is pink and sparkly!"
"Ash!!"
"Ash!!"
"Feebas!!"
"Feebas!!"
The instant Feebas appeared, the entire stadium exploded with cheers and excitement.
Because contestants weren't allowed to use moves and only had a single minute to perform, unless they prepared a particularly unique routine, most contestants typically received lower vote totals in the second round compared to the first.
But that problem simply didn't exist for Ash.
Yesterday, Feebas had been far too beautiful.
The audience still hadn't gotten enough of its mysterious and noble purple appearance.
And now—
To everyone's surprise—
Ash had given Feebas an entirely new makeup style.
The mysterious purple Feebas from yesterday had transformed into a sweet and dreamy pink Feebas today.
Not only did this create a completely fresh visual impact for the audience—
It also delivered an enormous sense of surprise.
As a result, the spectators became even more excited and enthusiastic.
Amid the deafening cheers, Feebas began its performance.
First, it slowly and gracefully swam through the Water Cube pool, elegantly displaying its quiet beauty to the audience.
Then—
It suddenly leapt from the water like a Magikarp leaping over the Dragon Gate, energetically bouncing and flipping across the surface with lively enthusiasm.
The crowd instantly erupted into another wave of excited screams and applause.
Truthfully, today's performance was almost identical to Feebas's showcase during yesterday's elimination round.
The routine itself hadn't changed at all.
The only difference—
Was the makeup.
Yet for the audience, that single change completely refreshed the experience.
It felt as though they were watching an entirely brand-new performance.
And they absolutely loved it.
One minute wasn't long.
Feebas swam elegantly through the Water Cube once, bounced playfully across the water several times—
And the showcase ended.
"Group Two, Contestant No.4's Pokémon, Feebas, has completed its performance. Audience judges, please cast your votes."
After the showcase concluded, Feebas immediately withdrew from the stage while the referee robot reminded the audience to use their voting devices.
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T/N:
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